Hundreds Attend Service to Honor Fallen Soldiers in Lakeland

Hundreds of people gathered in Lakeland on Sunday to honor the lives of soldiers from the Bay area killed in the line of duty.

Bay News 9

LAKELAND | Hundreds of people gathered in Lakeland on Sunday to honor the lives of soldiers from the Bay area killed in the line of duty.

Families of those who lost loved ones fought back tears as they listened to a choir sing the national anthem.

St. Petersburg Assistant Police Chief Cedric Gordon listened on as he honored his daughter Brittany Gordon. She was killed while serving overseas last year.

“There’s not a moment that goes by that I don’t think about her, think about the sacrifice she made,” Gordon said.

The service was also special to Steve Fleming and his family. His stepson Terry Lisk was killed while serving his country too.

“It seems like it was just yesterday. Even though it was seven years ago, it still is yesterday to us. To her, the hole gets smaller, but it never closes,” Fleming said.

It’s a feeling Ronnie Payne and his family can relate to. They lost their son Ron Payne Jr., a few years ago.

They’re hoping the annual services they put on to honor the fallen will give these families comfort.

“We started reaching out to other families to bring our healing about and we always felt like these young men and women were much more than a name and a number and America, they don’t need to forget them,” Payne said.

It’s a message echoed by Sonya Berky whose son Brian, was killed while serving in 2009.

“It just means a lot to the families that our children’s names will always be said. And there’s nothing more important than that. I want my son to always be remembered and honored,” said Berky.

This is the ninth year the family of Ronnie Payne Jr. has held these services. They've honored 45 families and say they will continue to do so. All a family has to do is reach out to them at the Calvary Baptist Church in Lakeland.